Door-latch



1.1. MALONE.

DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR-Z8. 1920- Patented Feb. 8', 1921n 2 suns-sun 1.

attozwug J. J. HOME.

D068 LAFCH.

APPLICATION FILED Ann, 1920.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2v H, m w 1 m a UNITED STA'ILESPATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. MALONE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DOOR-LATCH.

Application filed April 28,

To aZZ w from it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN J. MALONE, a citizen of the United States,residin in the city and county of New Haven and btate of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Latches, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to door latches, and has special reference tolatches for vehicle doors. The improvement will be described as appliedto a latch for an automobile door, but it will be understood thatcertain features may be used to advantage in latches of various othertypes.

One of the objects of this inyention is to provide an improved doorlatch of the type shown in my Patent No. 1,302,063, issued April 29,1919, wherein a spring is tensioned on the closing of the door which,when released, will withdraw the latch bolt from the opening.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide alatch which will beeasily operated and yet will be effectual in retaining the door tightlyin closed position.

A further object of my invention is to provide means associated with thelatch to prevent rattling of the door when the vehicle is in motion.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a latch which whileeffectually holding the door in closed position, is easily andpositively operated to retracted posi tion, allowing the door to beopened, and a latch which may be easily applied to any door, vehicle orotherwise, with which it is desired to use the latch.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features andcombinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary inside, elevational view of the door and bodyof a vehicle with the upholstering broken away to show my improved latchin operative position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the lock mounted as in Fig. 1, but takenfrom the other side, showing the door in closed position and the latchprotracted into the door strike.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in retra t dPO iti II- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 377,218.

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the parts when the door is in openposition.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on lines 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7 a of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line 9 9 of Fig. 6, but showing the latchbolt against the second opening in the strike.

Fig. 10 is a view on line 1010 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail perspective views of the latch bolt andstrike bar and a modified form of the same, respectively.

I Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of another position of the strikebolt.

In the drawings, I have shown my new latch applied to an ordinaryautomobile door, denoted by the character 10. It may comprise the usualupright frame member 11, having a covering of leather 12 on the inside.A latch supporting plate 13, which carries the entire latch mechanism ismortised into this upright frame member 11 at the free edge of the door,and is provided with a. face plate 14, through an opening in which thelatch bolt 15 is projected and retracted together with what is termedthe strike bolt 16, which as shown in Figs. 6 and 11, lies just back ofthe latch bolt. This strike bolt comprises the two parts 16 and 16 whichare secured together by a screw 17. A second opening 18, in the plate 16provides for an adjusted position of the two parts 16 and 16 in whichsecond position the plate 16 projects beyond 16? and acts alone as thestrike bolt. A guide screw 19 is provided in the plate 16 and cooperateswith a guide slot 20 in the plate 16 to keep the two plates in properrelation to each other.

The plate 16 of the strike bolt is L-shaped in cross-section, beingprovided with the flange 21. The bolt 15 is secured to andop- :er. tedby means of a rod 22, which passes loosely through an opening 23 in theflange 21, its rear end passing loosely through an opening 24: in acarrier 2 1 pivoted on the to a small extent about this point.

supporting plate at 25. An enlargement 26 on the end of the bolt 22provides a one way connection between the bolt and carrier. A spring 27surrounds the rod 22 and is compressed between the carrier '24 and latchrod 15 to normally hold the enlarged end 26 of the rod 22 against thecarrier 24. This serves to protract the bolt 15 through the face plate14 when the carrier is held in the position shown in Fig. 2.

.A catch bar 28 is provided to control the position of the carrier. Thiscatch bar is slightly bent, as shown in Figs. 5 and 5, at 29, whereit ispivoted to the-supporting plate by the pin 30, so that the ends will rck At the end of this catch nearestthe latch bolt, a small coil spring31 is provided between it and the supporting plate to keep the oppositeend normally in contact with the plate.

It is obvious that a flat spring or other means may be used for thispurpose.

Near the end of this catch bar opposite the spring 31, is provided arecess 32, which is adapted to en age, when, in normal position, (shownin igs. 5and 6'), and hold, the carrier 24 inthe position shown in Fig.4. When this end of the catch bar is swung away from the plate, as shownin Fig. 5, the pivoted carrier is released and assumes the positionshown in Fig. 3, as will be hereinafter described. This is accomplishedby the rod 33, which passes vertically through a recess 34 in the end ofthe catch bar and which near the bottom of the supporting plate 13,turns to provide a horizontal portion 35, which normally rests on thehorizontal arm 36 of the pivoted carrier 24. This rod turns downwardlyagain at 37, as shown in Figs; 7 and 7 and passes behind the arm 36 in arecessed portion thereof. The end of the rod is provided with a pin 38which moves verticallyin a bearing slot 39 in the supporting plate. Aspring 40 normally tends to keep this rod in raised position andthe'pin- 33 at the top of the slot. This arm is operated by a finger pull41, pivoted at 41', on the inside of the door of the automobile as shownin Figs. 1, 7' and 7 where it may be conveniently reached by anoccupant. It is provided with acam surface 42 and a plane surface 43adjacent the upper end of the rod 33. As the lever 41 is first engagedand pulled up by the finger, the cam surface 42 pushes the rod 33 awayfrom the supporting plate and the pivoted carrier 24 is released fromthe recess 32 of the catch bar 28. If the movement of the finger pull iscontinued theplane surface bears on the end of the rod 33' andpositively pushes it downwardly and through the horizontal portion 35 ofthis rod swings the carrier on its pivot. The arm of this finger pull.is slotted at 73 and a small latch 72, pivoted on the door at 74projects through this slot. This latch is a fixed handle. If, however,it is desired to operate the rod 33, the operator, simultaneously withgrasping the finger pull 41, presses the latch 7 2 down by a slightpressure of "the thumb'and releases this latch, as

shown in Fig. 7, the pull 41 now being free to move about its'pivot.

In order that this catch bar maybe actuated from the outside of theautomobile, a push button 44 is provided adjacent the usual door handle45. This push button'opcrates a push rod 46, which bears on and actuatesthe left end (as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4) cf the catch bar 28. It willbe apparent that pushing the button 44 will disengage the carrier fromthe catch bar 28, and it will be swung about its pivot 25 by meanshereinafter described. he push button, when released, will be'restoredto its outward position by the spring 31.

hen the door is in open position, as shown in Fig. 4., and the latchbolt 15 and strike bolt 16 are protracted from the plate 14, the flange21 (Fig. 6) lies just back of and bears against the rear face of thelatch. These parts are protracted by the spring 47 which is compressedbetween a fixed lug 48 on the supporting plate, and the rear face of theflange 21. This spring surrounds a guide rod 49, which is secured to thelug 48', and said rod passes loosely through the flange 21 and intoaguiding socket 50 in the latch bolt. Thus, when the strike bolt 16 isin protracted position the latch bolt is car. ried with it by the flange21, but when the strike bolt is forced back into the door against thespring 47, the latch bolt is free to move under the control of itsspring 27.

A third rod 51 is secured to the flange 21 and passes loosely through anopening 52 in the carrier, and a third spring-'53 sur iounds this rodand is compressed between the flange and the pivoted carrier when the.strike bolt referred to asa whole by the numeral 16, is retracted withinthe face plate 14, as shown in Fig. 2. This compression of the spring 53tends to move the pivoted carrier in a clockwise direction about itspivot 25 and 'does so'move it when the can rier is released from itsengagement with the catch bar by either the push button 44 or the fingerpull 41.

In the form shown, the strike plate or "strike 54 has two eat-chsurfaces 55 and 56,

and two strike surfaces 57 and 58. This is arranged so that if the doorisnot shut with sufiicient force for the latch bolt to catch back of 56,it will be held by the catch surface 55. lVith this form of strike,however, the strike bolt would catch on the surface 55 and as there isno means provided to retract this bolt, the door could not be furtheropened. To avoid this ditficulty the strike surface 55 is continued inthe form of a relatively narrow central rib 59 with the surface 58 cutback on each side thereof. This rib will always keep the strike boltretracted when the door is closed, gradually allowing the spring 47 toprotract this bolt as the door is'opened and the strike surface recedesfrom the edge of the door. The latch bolt 15, in order that it may catchback of the surface 55 and not be retracted by the rib 59, is providedwith a central recess or cut out portion large enough to receive the rib59, the portions of the latch bolt on each side of the recessfunctioning, in all res ects, as they would if the rib were not provied.

The operation of the elements already described is as follows:

When the door is in open position, the parts are in the position shownin Fig. 4. The spring 47 holds the strike bolt protracted and by meansof the flange 21 also holds the latch bolt protracted. The carrier 24 isheld in the position shown by the catch bar 28. The door is then closedby being pushed shut. The latch and strike bolts engage the strikesurface 57 and are pushed back against the tension of the three springs,the spring 53 tending to cause the carrier 24 to rotate about its pivot25. When the catch surface 55 is passed, the latch bolt springs outbehind this surface, protracted by the spring 27, the bifurcated endportions of the bolt straddling the rib 59. This rib holds the strikebolt constantly retracted. As the movement proceeds, the strike bolt isstill further retracted, and the latch bolt'again retracted until thedoor reaches the'position shown in Fig. 6 when the latch springs outbehind the surface 56. The strike bolt, however, does not enter behindthis surface, but remains retracted keeping the spring 53 tensioned torotate the carrier. Suppose, now, it is desired to open the door. If theoperator is outside he presses the button 44, or if inside, he operatesthe finger pull 41, the result of either operation being the same viz.,the swinging of the catch bar 28 to release the carrier which urged bythe spring 53 retracts the latch bolt and the door may be pushed open.As the door opens, the receding strike plate surfaces 59 and 57 allowthe strike bolt to be protracted by its spring 47 and it carries outwith it the latch bolt and latch rod 22. This brings the carrier 24 backto position shown in Fig. 4, where the smallspring 31 urges the catchbar recess into carrier retaining position again and the parts are againin the position from which the description of their operation began.

If the door is opened from the inside and it should happen that theparts would tend to bind after the catch bar had released the carrier, afurther movement of the finger pull would cause the surface 43 to engagethe rod 33 and force the arm downward so that the movement of thecarrier would be started positively, by means of the horizontal portion35 of the rod 33, forcing down the arm 36 of the carrier.

In the operation just described, the two parts16 and 16 of the strikebolt 16 act as one piece and they might be so made as far as theirpreviously described operation is concerned. Such a modification, wherethe two are formed as one integral element, is

shown at 61 in Fig. 12. The latch bolt 15 shown in this figure does notcontain the recess 60 and is for use with latches when only one catchsurface is used instead of the two surfaces 55 and 56.

The use of the two members 16 and 16 will now be described. If the screw17 were removed and placed in the second opening 1 of the plate 16 thisplate would project beyond the plate 16 to some extent (see Fig. 13) andwould alone be the acting strike bolt which would engage the strikesurface.

This would operate exactly as described above except, that, when thedoor came to closed position, as shown in Fig. 13, the beveled edge 62of this plate 16 would wedge itself in behind the catch surface 56 andeffectually prevent any rattling of the door. It will also keep the doorclosed after the latch bolt is retracted until slight pressure in thedirection to open the door causes the strike bolt to be retracted by thebevel edge 62 contacting with the intersection of the surfaces 59 and56. It will also be understood that either of the strike bolts providedin Figs. 11 and 12 also by engaging and bearing with considerablepressure against the strike rib 59 tends to prevent rattling and to keepthe door from swinging freely open after the latch is retracted, somelittle pressure being required to move the door toward open position.

In Figs. 8 and 10 is shown a simple means for locking the push buttonagainst movement and hence preventing the door being opened by anunauthorized person. An ordinary pin tumbler lock case 63 is mounted inthe escutcheon. 64 on the outside of the door adjacent (in the formshown just above) the button 44. In this case is the usual barrel 65 onthe end of which is secured finger 66 to be rotated by the barrel whenit is turned with the proper key. A ring 67 is rotatably mounted on thepush button but secured between the escutcheon and door againstlongitudinal movement relative to the button. and is provided with achannel shaped recess 68 into which the finger '66 moves. This ring isturned by the finger 66 contacting with the walls of this recess. Asshown in Fig. 10, a certain amount of lost motion is provided for sothat the finger 66 may be turned from the extreme position shown in thisfigure to a position in the line of centers of the lock barrel and pushbutton (as shown in dotted lines) without moving the ring 67. Thisenables the key to be withdrawn after the button has been locked orunlocked.

As shown in Fig. 10, the button is in unlocked position and in thisposition a lug 69 projecting from the inside of the ring or washer 67rests in a groove 70 formed longitudinally of the button. Just below thewasher 67 and in alinement with the lug 69, is a transverse recess orgroove 71 in the button communicating with the 'roove'70, and into thisrecess 71, the lug is moved when the finger 66 is moved to the right inFig. 1 to lock the button against longitudinal movement. The lock barrelcan then be turned back to neutral position 7 and the key withdrawnwithout unlocking the button.

It will be apparent that I have provided a latch with a normallyprotracted latch bolt, which will effectually hold the door in closedposition and in which a sprlng is tensioned, by the closing of the door,which tends to retract the latch bolt when the catch which holds thelatch in protracted 7 position is released.

While the invention 18 described as applied to an automobile door latch,it will be understood that various features thereof may beadvantageouslyused in other rela: tions and many modifications may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means yieldinglyholding said bolt in protracted position, and means to retract said boltupon release of'said holdingmeans.

2. In adoor latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means holding saidbolt in protracted position, and means to retract said boltautomatically upon release ohsaid hold-- ing. means.

3. In a doorclatch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means yieldinglyholding said bolt in protracted position, and spring' means to retractsaid bolt upon release of said holding means,

- 4. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt, means yieldinglyholding said latch bolt in protracted position, and means controlled bythe position of said strike bolt to retract sald bolt upon release ofsaid holding means.

6. In a door latch, a latch bolt, means holding said bolt in protractedposition, and

means, set into operation by the closing of the door, for retractingsaid bolt upon release of said holding means.

7. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means holding saidbolt in protracted position, and means, moved to operating position bythe closing of the door, for retracting said bolt automatically uponrelease of said holding means.

8. In a door latch, a latch bolt, means holding said bolt in protractedposition, and means, moved to operating position by the closing of thedoor, for retracting said bolt automatically upon release of saidholding means. Y

9. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, meansholding saidlatch bolt in protracted position and spring means moved to operatingposition by the closing of the door to retract said latch boltuponrelease carrier for controlling the position of said bolt,means forholding said carrier in bolt protracting position, and means including astrikeengaging bolt for moving said carrier to bolt retracting positionupon release of said holding means.

18. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, a bolt carrierfor controlling the position of said bolt, means for holding saidcarrier in bolt protracting position and means moved into operatingposition by the closing of the door for moving said carrier to retractsaid bolt upon release of said holding means.

14. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a bolt carrier controllingtheposition of said latch bolt, and normally locked in bolt protractingposition, means to release said carrier and means to urge said carrierto bolt retracted position upon its release.

15. In a door latch, the combination with a door and. a door frameprovided with a strikeplate,of a latch bolt yieldingly protracted intothe strike plate "when the door is shut and means, engaging said strikeplate and tending to urge said bolt to retracted position.

16. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frameprovided with a strike plate, of a latch bolt, means for holding saidbolt in protracted position and means, moved to operative position bycontact with said strike plate, for retracting said bolt.

17. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frameprovided with a strike plate, of a latch bolt, means for holding saidbolt in protracted position and means, moved to operative position bycontact with said strike plate, for retracting said bolt upon release ofsaid holding means.

18. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a pivoted bolt carrier forcontrolling the position of said bolt, means for holding said carrier inbolt protracting position and means for moving said carrier to boltretracting position upon release of said holding means.

19. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, a pivoted boltcarrier for controlling the position of said bolt, means for holdingsaid carrier in bolt protracting position and means moved into operatingposition by the closing of the door for moving said carrier to retractsaid bolt upon release of said holding means.

20. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frameprovided with a strike plate, of a latch bolt, a strike bolt normallyholding said latch bolt in protracted position, and means connectingsaid strike bolt with said latch bolt, said means tending to urge saidlatch bolt to retracted position when said strike bolt engages saidstrike plate.

21. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frameprovided with a strike plate, of a bolt carrier, a spring pressed latchbolt carried thereby, a catch member to hold said carrier in position toprotract said bolt, a strike bolt normally urged to protracted position,and engaging said latch bolt to urge the same to protracted position,said strike bolt and carrier being connected to retract said latch boltwhen said strike bolt engages said strike plate.

22. In a door latch, a latch bolt, and means including a strike bolt forholding said latch bolt in protracted position when the door is open andfor retracting it when the door is closed.

23. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latchbolt to protract it when the door is open and connected to said latchbolt to retract it when the door is closed and means to prevent theretraction of said bolt.

24. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latchbolt to protract it when the door is open and connected to said latchbolt to retract it when the door is closed and means to prevent theretraction of said bolt, said preventing means being rendered inoperableat will.

25. In a door latch,a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latch boltto protract it when the door is open and connected to said latch bolt toretract it when the door is closed and means to prevent the retractionof said bolt, and means to render said preventing means inoperative andallow said strike bolt to retract said latch bolt.

26. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latchbolt to protract it when the door is open and connected to said latchbolt to retract it when the door is closed, means to prevent theretraction of said bolt, and a push button to render said preventingmeans inoperative and allow said strike bolt to retract said latch bolt.

27. In a door latch, a latch bolt, resilient means to retract said bolt,a push button setting said means into operation, and key controlledmeans to lock said push button against movement.

28. In a door latch, a latch bolt, means to retract said bolt, a fingerpull controlling the operation of said retracting means, and meansprojecting from said finger pull for engagement by the finger tonormally lock the same against movement.

29. In a door latch, a strike plate, a latch bolt, and a strike bolt,adjacent thereto, engaging the strike plate when the door is closed toprevent rattling of said door.

30. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frame havinga double faced strike plate of a raised longitudinal rib on the innerstrike face, and a latch bolt provided with a cut away portion toreceive said rib.

31. In combination, a door, a latch thereon provided with a latch bolt,means to retract said lock bolt set into operative position by theclosing of the door, a push button on one side of said door, and afinger pull on the other side of the door, both said push button andfinger setting said retracting means into operation.

32. In combination, a door provided with a latch having a latch bolt,resilient means to retract said bolt, means on each side of said doorfor setting said retracting means into operation.

33. In a door latch, a strike plate, a latch bolt engaging therewith andan anti-rattling member slidably carried by said bolt and adapted to beforced into engagement with said strike plate when the door is closed.

34:. In a door latch, a strike plate, a door latch bolt adapted toengage the same, and an anti-rattling member slidably carried by saidlatch bolt and adapted to be wedged in. bolt engaging member, and ananti-rattling 10 between said bolt and plate. member slidably mounted infront of said 35. In a door latch, a strike plate, a latch latch boltand projectable into engagement bolt engaging therewith, ananti-rattling with said latch bolt engaging member to member adapted tobe wedged in between prevent rattling of said door.

said latch and plate and means adjustable In witness whereof, I havehereunto set 15 on said member to prevent said wedging acmy hand on the23rd day of April, 1920.

tion.

36. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a latch JQHN J. MALONE.

